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A note to our listeners before we get started, this story contains descriptions of

assault and sexual violence. Cecilia, I don't know, I think I'm having a panic attack, you know, I wasn't so scared until now. I was just nervous, but now I'm feeling

really scared. I don't know if he can come after us for revenge or something.

I'm sorry, I'm so sorry to be bothering you, but I don't know who else to talk to. I'm sorry, silly if you can talk to me a little bit okay.

Bye. That was Maria.

this

this scared.

Seven years ago, she was a carefree 22-year-old on her first trip abroad to Italy, and so much has

happened to her since then that it's hard to put into words, but I'm going to try.

I'm your host, Natasha del Toro.

I'm an investigative journalist and I've worked on a lot of stories about crime, corruption, and abuses of power.

But when I heard this one, there was just something about it that really disturbed me.

And I think the reason is, because what happened to Maria and the other women that you're about to meet could have easily happened to me.

It could happen to any of us.

The man Maria is talking about who she's scared will come after her for revenge.

He caused a lot of suffering for a lot of women, and he did it in a very calculated way. He used online tools that the women in this story that all of us have learned to trust, whether it's to get a ride or to find a place to stay.

But what happens when that trust is broken and you become the victim of a crime?

If the police won't help you, where are you supposed to turn? turn.

But this is not a story about victims.

This is a story about women who fight back.

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